Sarasota, Fla., March 10, 2015 — The Yanks traveled south to play the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota Tuesday. The ballpark has been there for years, with several teams — including the White Sox and the Reds — serving as Spring tenants, but the city and the O’s have teamed to make an unadorned diamond into something of a jewel. But neither can take credit for the gorgeous blue sky, the white puffy clouds, or the 85 degree temps we enjoyed on a perfect day.

Theory has it that the pitchers are ahead of the batters in early March, and it held true this day, or at least it did for all but the first 15 tosses from the arm of Yankee youngster Branden Pinder. The four hits he allowed to begin the bottom of the fifth netted the Orioles two runs, and the game. Home runs from second baseman Rey Navarro in the seventh and Yankee catcher Gary Sanchez in the ninth accounted for the only other scores in the 3-1 Baltimore victory.

Bright spots for the Yankees were dominant two-strike-out innings from Esmil Rogers (the fourth) and baby southpaw Jacob Lindgren (the eighth), a three-hit day for Chase Headley, and yet another solid game from DH (this time) Jose Pirela. His two-out single in the sixth represented the team’s lone scoring chance until the ninth, but new third base coach Joe Espino held Jonathan Galvez (running for Headley) at third. Adam Jones was charging hard from center, but if you can’t try to score on this play on March 10, what happens on July or August 10?

Also of note was Mark Teixeira notching another base knock hitting into the shift, and right fielder Aaron Judge, who went 0-for-3, but who made a fine diving catch on Daniel Alvarez’s foul fly down the line to close a scoreless sixth in which righthander Jose Ramirez had allowed a single and a double. Chase Whitley started, and held the home team scoreless on two hits through three, but he did surrender three walks, and threw just 23 of 45 pitches for strikes.

Wei-Yin Chen had an effective three-inning start for the O’s, but their standout player on the day was Manny Machado, who made a nice play in the field and drilled three hard hits in as many tries; he drove in the second run. It’s very early, but DH (and usual starting catcher) Matt Wieters looked weak and slow in his comeback bid from injury. Ex-Boston catcher Ryan Lavarnway hit the ball hard in going 1-for1 plus a walk, and his second-inning foul ball felled a small boy in the second row near third base in the second inning. There was consternation and help all around, but the young man was able to walk off on his own power.

The care given to the young fan was typical of the customer service the stadium staff lavished on all comers all day. Our usher in section 219 not only helped elderly patrons to their seats; he repeatedly offered sunscreen to everyone in the section all through the three steaming hours of play. Orioles fans, too, were polite and friendly, something that perhaps should be a staple throughout baseball, but it’s not the kind of treatment Yankee fans expect to receive on road trips. Come to think of it, however, Astros fans in Kissimmee were pleasant during Saturday’s game too.

Which brings on a disturbing thought. Has missing the postseason two years running softened the Yankee image? Do the team and its fans not intimidate advocates of the nonpinstriped teams as they used to? Should I be feeling insulted that one and all treated us so well? I guess I’ll have to insult a Red Sox fan or two in Tampa Wednesday afternoon. Not all change is good.

YANKEE BASEBALL!!!